Stock-fitting machine



Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,066

A. E. {OHNSQN V STOCK FITTING MACHINE Filed Abril 14 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J n g Aug. 26, 1924.

A. E. JOHNSON STOCK FITTING MACHINE Filed Anrii 14 I 1919 3 Shgets-Sheet ,2

Aug. 26 1924. 1,506,066

A. E. JOHNSON STOCK FITTING MACHINE Filed Anrii 14, 19 19 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 20 154 36 5126 E I r' J IVA lung

Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES A rsoae e PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. JOHNSON, O'F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

STOCK-FITTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 14, 1919. Serial No. 289.879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. JoHNso-N, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Fitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stock fitting machines and more particularly to channeling machines for making soles for turn shoes.

The Economy channeling machine for making Welt insoles, disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States to \Villiam C. Meyer, No. 98%,773, February 21, 1911, and to Albert E. Johnson, No. 1,349,723, dated Aug. 19, 1920, has long been in commercial use and the general object of the present invention is to embody in a channeling ma chine of the type disclosed in said patents, such features as are requisite to provide for the production of turn soles. To this end the driving, work supporting and feeding mechanisms of said patented machine are retained in their entirety and improvements have been made in the instrumentalities for engaging and operating on the sole to provide for the different fitting required for turn soles over what is required for welt insoles. Accordingly the more important improved features embrace the mountings of the presser gage to enable an even thick ness of sole edge to be obtained; the mounting of the channel knife in such manner as to provide for its ready withdrawal when channeling for sewed heel seats; and the provision of a sole stripping device to insure the removal of the sole from the channel knife.

Further novel features will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the fol li'iwing description, some of said features, for example the improved adjusting mechanism for sole thickness being advantageous in welt work as well in turn work.

Especial attention is called to the feature of the invention which enables a turn sole having a mock welt forepart and a feathererla'ed shank to be completely fitted on the machine. Heretofore it has been the practice to utilize two separate machines in producing a turn sole of the type described, the margin at the shank being feather-edged after a mock Welt has first been formed on this portion of the sole. Consequently the feeding teeth pass twice over the between substance throughout the shank with a resultant considerable weakening thereof. By the use of the present invention, which provides for separate operations on the forepart and shank, the greatest possible strength of the between substance throughout its entire length is maintained.

To the accomplishment of the objects of the invention as hereinbefore set forth, the invention comprises the features and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the left hand end of the machine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the machine showing the channeling tools in working position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. but showing the channeling tools in inactive position; Fig. 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the channeling tools when in working position; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the channeling tools when in ii working position; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the shoulder knife and presser foot, partly sectioned on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan showing the relation of the channeling tools, feed foot, edge gage and presser foot, the last being in section; and Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, of the locking mechanism for the channeling knife, said mechanism being shown in air locked position.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the illustrated machine is provided with a wor; table 10, which rotated step-by-step in unison with the ell-'00 tive movements of a four-motion sole-feeding device 12. The table 10 is vertically movable to permit the insertion and re moval of the work between the table and the sole, tittingtools, namely, a channel knife 14 and a shoulder knife 16. Said knives 1 and 16 are mounted on a vertically movable knife-carrier 18 which is urged downwardly by a coiled expansion spring 20 and is adapted to be raised through movement of a through a depending rod connecting its outer end with a foot treadle (not shown) at the base of the machine.- These parts of the machine have the same general construction and mode of operation as the corresponding parts of the machine disclosed in said Johnson patent hereinbefore referred to, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description. y 3

In preparing turn soles for sewed heel seat work it is customary to run in with the channel knife through the channel flap and then, after the channel has been completed by feeding past this out. back the sole off of the knife through the slit made in starting the out. In order to eliminate the necessary slowing up of the operation, due to this method of removing the solefrom the machine, the channel knife is so mounted that it may be removed from its operating position by a movement in the direction of the depth of the channel. For this purpose the channel knife is secured-to a knife-block. 32 (Fig. 2) pivoted on a horizontal stud 34 which is secured to a vertical plate 36jp ro jecting from the low'r end of the knife: carrier 18. The knife block 32 is actuated to move the channel. knife toward and from the work through a link having, one end con nected by a pivot pin 39 to an upwardly projecting lug 40 on the knife block 32 and its other end connected to an arm 42 fast on the inner end of a rock-shaft 44 which is journaled in the upper end of the knife carrier 18, Fig. 1. The shaft-44 is rocked to move an arm 42 downward-and cons:- quently to depress the channel knife block 32 by means of a torsion spring 46 coiled about-the shaft and having one end secured to the knife carrier 18 and its other end secured to the under side of an arm 47, fast on the other end of-said rock-shaft and projecting in a direction opposite to that of the an 42. The shaft 44 is rocked to lift the channel knife block 32 by means of arod 48 (Fig. 2) having one end connected to the fre end of the arm 47 and its other end adjustablv secured at 49 to the treadle rod 30.

'lhe knife block 32 has vertical sides 50 and 52 (Figs. 4 and 8) arranged on opposite sides of the plate 36. These sides are joined at their upper ends by a tie 54 which by engagement with the upper edge of the plate 16, serves as a stop to positively limit the extent of the downward.or work engaging mov ment of the channel knife 14. The upward movement of the channel knife block is limited by the engagement of a screw or pin 56 secured between the vertical sides of the knife block (see Fig. 3) with the upper end ofan arcuateslot 58 (Fig. 3) in the plate 36 having the pivot 34 as a center.

The channel knife block 32 is rigidly locked against movement while the knife is in operating position by the engagement of thy forward end of a horizontal locking pin 60 (l igsl 2, 4 and 8) with a close fitting aperture 59 in the side 52 of the knife block. This pin is held in said aperture by a leaf spring 61 which engages the head of the pin and tends continually to press the pin inward. The shank of the pin 60 is mounted in a close fitting aperture in the plate 36 and extends through an elongated slot in a releasing arm 62 having its. upper end pivoted on the pin 39 at the lower end of the'link 38. An opening 63 (Figs. 3 4 and 8) cut away below the pin in therear side 50 of the knife block permits the block to be raised relatively to the pin 60. When the treadle 30 is actuated by the operator to withdraw the channel knife from the work, v

the locking pin 60 is first withdrawn from its locking engagement with the aperture 59 in the knife block 32 (as shown in Fig. 8) in order to permit the knife block to be raised. This is effected through the link 38, which in its initial movement, carries the. arm 62 upward a sufficient distance to effect such withdrawal of the pin 60through the engagement of a wedge face 64 on the arm with a complemental wedge face 66 on the under side of the head of the locking pin (see Fig. 8). Such movement of the arm 62, independently of the knife block, is permitted because the pivot pin 39 at the lower end of the link 38 is connected to the lug 40 through a slot 68. Upon the withdrawal ofthe pin 60 from its aperture 59 in the knife block, the latter is swung up- .wardly about its pivot 34 by the engagement of the pin 39 with the upper end of the slot 68, which movement withdraws the channel knife from the work in thedir ction .of the depthof the channel, it being observed .69 (Fig. 2) in the treadle rod 30 through which extends the stud that connects this rod with the knife carrier lifting lever 22.

The construction is such that the downward movement of the treadle rod does not raise the knife carrier 18 until said stud is en gage-d by the upper end of the slot 69, and

the lost motion at this point gives sufficient time to effect a release of the knife block.

Immediately upon a release of the knife block the continued pressure on the treadle lifts the knife carrier 18 and lowers the work table 10. As the carrier rises it carries with it the rock-shaft 44 and this carries the lever 42 upward accelerating the movement of the knife block which removes the channel knife from its operating position.

In order to overcome the tendency of the channel knife to lift the work from the table -10, when said table is withdrawn, a work stripping device is provided. -This stripping device comprises'a lever 7 2 (Figs. 2 and pivoted at Ben the plate 36, and its outer end is connected by a link 74. to a stud 76 which is secured between the sides of the knife block (see Fig. 1). Upon the withdrawal of the channel knife from the work, the upward movement of the'link 7 4 will tilt the lever 72 and cause its inner end to swing downward (Fig. 3). This movement of the lever 72 strips the work from the channel knife and holds it upon the work table 10 while the knife is being withdrawn. During the work engaging movement of the channel knife block, now to be described, the inner end of the lever 72 will be returned to its inoperative position against the under side of the plate 36, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the treadle rod 30 is released by the operator, the knife carrier and work table are caused to approach each other and during this movement the knife block 32 is swung downward by means of the spring to the limit of its movement (Fig. 2) which brings the spring pressed locking pin 60 into position to engage the aperture 59 in the side 52 of the knife block whereby the knife blockis locked in operative position. To insure that the knife block and not the lock releasing plate 62 will'be first actuated at the start of the downward movement of the link 88,- a grasshopper spring is provided having one end secured to said link andits other end secured to the top of the lug 40 on the knife block. This spring is strong enough to maintain the upper end of the slot 68 in engagement with the pin 39 until the block completes its turning movement about its pivot 34. The timing of the moving parts 'is such that the channel knife reaches its lowermost position just as the work table is reaching its highest position. The two knives are, therefore, seated on the face of the sole and this causes a compressing of the knife carrier spring 20. On the next forward, or effective, movement of the feed foot 12, the two knives are caused to dig in, because of the pressure from the spring 20, and in this manner the operating position of both is attained.

In the manufacture of a turn sole of the type having its forepart provided with a mock welt edge and its shank provided with feather edge, it has been customary to form a mock welt edge and a channel about both the forepart and the shank of the sole blank by means of a suitable channeling machine, and thereafter, by means of another machine, to reduce the margin at the shank to a feather edge. The devices for feeding a sole blank past the knives of these machines are usually provided with feed points which are progressively projected into that part of the stock which forms the between substance. Consequently, the portion of the between substance at the shank of the sole is subjected to the action of the feeding devices of both machines which, by their combined actions, materially weaken said portion. The machine illustrated in the drawings, however, is capable of performing the various operations on a sole blank which are-necessary to produce the type of turn sole described, in such a manner that no portion of the between substance is acted upon more than once by the sole feeding devices. To this end the shoulder-knife in this machine is adapted to be moved laterally with the channel knife, into and out of op erative engagement with the sole blank. This permits the forepart of the sole to be fitted in any desired manner and thereafter, by a separate operation the margin of the shank of the sole may be fitted in a different manner than the fitting of the forepart.

Accordingly the shoulder knife is mounted upon an edge knife block 84.- (Figs. 2 and 3) having its upper end fulcrumed on a horizontal pivot pin 86 on the knife carrier 18. The edge knife block is adapted to be swung on its pivot to move the shoulder knife into and out of operative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, by means of a manually operated lever 88 which is fulcrumed on the machine frame and connected by a link 90 to the knife block. The move ment of the knife block 84linto operative position is limited positively by the engagement of a shoulder 82 on the block with a cooperating shoulder on the knife carrier. The knife block Set is maintained in operative position by a coiled spring 9 1- having one end connected-to the link 90 and its other end secured to a pin in the frame of the machine.

In order to produce the type of turn sole described, the machine is first provided with a mock welt shoulder knife, as illustrated in the drawings, and the two knives are entered in the sole at substantially the ball line on one side. This fitting is continued around the forepart until the opposite ball isreached when the two knives are both withdrawn simultaneously by the controlling mechanisms described. After the desired number of sole blanks have thus been operated upon, the mock welt shoulder knife is removed from the knife block 84 and is Ti.-

placed by a feather edging knife. it will be noted that no portion of any sole at'the rear of the ball line has been pricked by the feed foot 12.

Commercial channeling machines are so constructed that the work can only be fed in a particular direction therethrough. Accordingly, in order to feather edge and channel the shank of a sole blank after the forepart has been acted upon, the knives of the illustrated machine start to act on one margin of the shank at a point adjacent the breast line and on the other margin at a point adjacent the ball line. It is, therefore, essential that the feather edging knife should be capable of being operated to either startor end the formation of the feather edge adjacent the ball line of a sole blank in such manner as to cause the feather edge to properly merge into the mock welt edge previously formed about the forepart. The mechanism of the present machine which permits moving the feather edging knife gradually into and out of operative position, enables the operator to start and end the cutting action thereof, while the work is being fed, such that the forward ends of the feather edge on both sides of the sole will be properly merged with the mock welt edge. Moreover, the shoulder knife is capable of being thrown into and out of operation, independently of the channel knife, at points adjacent the ends of the breast line in order to permit the channel knife alone to act on the margin of the heel of a sole blank for sewed heel-seat work.

In order to guide the string produced by the shoulder knife out of the machine and thus prevent its entanglement with the moving parts, a string guide is secured to the lower face of the shoulder knife block 84. This guide is in the form of a horizontally arranged plate 96 which projects through the recess in the side of the shank of the shoulder knife (see Fig. 6) and is provided at its forward end with a down-turned flange 98. This flange forms, with the knife shank, substantially an enclosed channel (see Fig. 5) through which the string passes and is guided rearwardly over the edge of the work table.

In channeling machines for insole work, the depth of the cuts made by the edge and channel knives is determined by a presser foot, in fixed relation to the knives, which bears on the flesh side of the sole. In the machine illustrated in the drawings, however, the depth of the cuts made by both knives are gaged from the grain side of the sole, which necessitates the employment of a yieldingly mounted presser foot. The improved presser foot is shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, and consists of a plate 106, carried by an adjustable holder 108, as usual, but as distinguished from the welt work presser foot the plate 106 is mounted to slide freely in the usual dove-tailed groove in its holder. The presser foot is continuously pressed downwardly by a coiled spring which is confined between an adjusting screw 110, threaded into a bore in the holder, and the head of a screw 112 threaded into the rear face of the presser foot. The downward movement of the presser foot, when not in engagement with the work, is limited by an engagement of the screw 112 with an adjustable stop screw 114 threaded into the lower end of the holder 108. I

It has been found that by setting the shoulder knife slightly inadvance of the channel knife, the quick turn at the toe of a sole blank can be taken without cutting into the between substance. To permit the shoulder knife to be thus positioned relatively to the channel knife, one side of'the work engaging end of the presserfoot 106 isthinned as at 116 (Fig. 7). Such arrangement of the knives, however, forms no part of the present invention.

In the illustrated machine, the height of the knives 14 and 16 above the work support may be varied to accord with the thickness of the work being operated upon by the adjustment of the knife carrier 18 relatively to the work supporting table 10. It is highly desirable thatsuch adjustment of theknife carrier should be effected without varying the tension of the coiled spring 20 which urges the carrier toward the work support. A device for thus adjusting the carrier is disclosed in the patent to Merton E. Johnson, No. 1,237,523 dated August 21, 1917. This device, in the patented machine, comprises a thimble interposed between the spring for urging the knife carrier toward the work table, and the means, for adjusting the tension of the spring. Consequently a vertical adjustment, of the thimble effects a corresponding adjustment of the knife carrier carrying its spring with it. The knife is held in its-adjusted position by tightening a screw which extends through a slot in a lug on the thimble, which screw is threaded into the frame of the carrier. I The adjustmenlt is determined entirely by guess and tria To securean accurate adjustment quickly, without trial, by means of the adjusting device of said'Merton E. Johnson patent, the machine illustrated in the drawings is provided with a lever 118 (Figs 1 and2) which is fulcrumed on a pin 120 spanning a slot (Fig. 1) cut in the usual .lug 122 projecting horizontally from the cover plate 126 of the guideway for the knife carrier. The inner end of the lever 118 is provided with a toothed segment 128 which meshes with a rack 130 formed on an adjusting thimble 132, of the kind just described, mounted'on the rod 134 about which the spring 20 is coiled. The thimble 132 is prevented from turning on the rod 134 by a guide pin 138 on the frame of the machine which extends through an aperture in a flange at, the top of the thimblc. A movement of, the lever 118, by means of a handle formed on its outer end, will adjust the knife carrier, through movement of the thimble 132, and set the knives nearer to or further from the work table as may be desired.

In order that the operator may accurately adjust the knife carrier to accord with the thickness of the sole blank to be acted upon, a scale in irons (Fig. 1) is provided on the face of an ear 123 past which the lever may be moved and locked in position by a spring pressed detent 140, on the lever, which is adapted to engage radial. notches in the side of the ear 123 (see Fig. 2.)

It will be observed that when the ad justing lever 118 is moved to shift the thim ble 132 the movement of the knife carrier 18 in response thereto changes the vertical position of the rock-shaft :44. Provision is made to permit this without moving the pin 39 from the lower end of the slot in the lug 40 by a lost motion between the upper end of the rod 48 and the lever arm 4'7. To this end the upper end of the rod 48 is slotted at 100 (see Fig. 2) and by means of the adjustable connection 49 is so set as to permit the required adjustment of the knife carrier for sole thickness without effect on the treadle rod. The torsion spring 46prevents the link 38 from being lifted while the adjustment is being made by causing the lever arms 42 and 47 to tilt about the rock-shaft 44 as it moves upward or downward. The slot 100 in the rod 48 permits free play of the lever arm 47.

lVhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement &Of the parts shown and described, since this construction and, arrangement is the sim plest and most efiicient embodiment of the invention which has yet been devised, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as it is specified in the claims, and may be varied or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed as new, is

l. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, means for supporting and feeding a sole blank, a shoulder knife, a pivoted knife block therefor, and means under the control of the operator for moving the knife block laterally to move thekn-ife into and out of operative engagement with the blank. 7

2. A stock fitting machine having, in com bination, means for supporting and feeding a sole blank, a pivoted knife block,- the axis of the pivot being substantially paral-- lel to the line of feed, ashoulder knife mounted thereon, and means for swinging said block to move the shoulder knife into and out of operative engagement with the blank.

3. A stock fitting machine having, in combifiation, a work support, means for feeding a sole blank, a shoulder knife of the drag knife type, and means capable of being actuated during the feeding of the blank for moving the shoulder knife laterally into and out of operatively engage ment with th blank.

4. A stock fitting machine having, in com-- bination, means for supporting and feeding a sole blank, a shoulder knife, a channel knife, knife blocks for said knives each of which is pivotally mounted, and means for moving both knives laterally into and out of operative engagement with the blank by swinging said blocks about their pivots. 5. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, means for supporting and feeding a sole blank having a mock welt edge previously formed about its forepart, a shoulder knife for forming a feather edge at the'shank of the blank, and means op ative during the feeding of the blank for moving the shoulder knife across the line of feed gradually into and out of operative engagement with the stock whereby the feather edges can be merged at their forward ends into the mock welt edge.

6. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a pivoted knife block a channel knife supported thereby, means for swinging said block about its pivot to carry the knife into and out of operating position, and a device for locking said block against movement when in operating position.

7. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a knife block above said support, a pivot on which said block is mounted permitting angular movement of the block thereabout toward and from the work support, and means for look ing said block against displacement in its position of nearest approach to the wwk support.

8. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a knife carrier, a knife block pivotally mounted on said carrier, a device for locking said block against all movement relatively to said carrier, and means for releasing said locking device and swinging said block about its pivot relatively to said carrier.

I 9. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, .a channel knife mounted for movement toward and from the work. a device for locking said knife in operating position, means for releasing the locking device and withdrawing the knife from the work, and a single actuating device for said means. i

' ,110'} A. stock fitting machine having, in

combination, a knife carrier, a knife block movably mounted on said carrier, a pin on said carrier adapted to engage an aperture in said block and hold it against movement, a springacting to continually force said pin into said aperture, and means acting on said pin to overcome the force of said spring and release the block from its engagement with the carrier.

11. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a knife carrier, a knife block movably mounted on the carrier, a sliding pin mounted on the carrier and passing through an aperture in the block, and means forwithdrawing said pin to free the block and then move the block relatively to the carrier.

j 12. A stock fitting machine having, in

combination, a knife carrier and a work I support relatively movable in opposite direct-ions, a knife block movable relatively to the carrier, means for positively locking the block against movement, and means for releasing the' lock and thereafter separating the carrier and support and simultaneously moving the block relatively to the carrier.

13. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a knife block mounted for movement relatively thereto but normally positively locked against movement, and means for moving the block relatively to the support including mechanism to insure a release thereof prior to the initiation of the movement.

14. A stock fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a lip forming knife, a knife carrier movable toward and from said support, a spring for yieldingly urging the carrier toward said support, means for setting the spring to a predetermined tension, a movable member interposed between said spring and its setting means whereby the carrier may be moved without disturbing the setting of the spring, and means under control of the operator for moving said member predetermined amounts.

15. A stock fitting machine. having, in combination, a work support, a lip forming knife, a knife carrier movable toward and from said support, a spring for yieldingly. urging the carrier toward said support, means on the carrier for setting the spring to a predetermined tension, a movable memher in engagement with one end of the spring whereby the carrier and the spring setting means may be moved together with.

out disturbing the setting of the spring, a scale to indicate the position to which to move said member to adjust the knife carrier for different thicknesses of soles, and means for holding said member in position at a particular point on said scale.

16. A stock fitting machine having fin combinatioma Work s pport; a lip forming knife, a knife carrier movable toward and from said support, a spring foryieldmgly urging the carrler toward sald support,

means on the carrier for setting the spring to a predetermined tension, an adjustable member on which said setting mea-ns bears may be moved without disturbing the set-- ting 0f the spring, and a lever having one end provided with a segment in mesh with a rack on the adjustable member for adjusting the latter.

17 A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a lip forming knife on aknife block, means to raise the block and knife, and a member connected to the block and movable in an opposite direction to strip the work from said knife as it is raised.

18. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a lip forming knife, a device movable relatively to said support for stripping the sole from said knife, and a single means for withdrawing the knife and actuating said stripper.

19. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a lip forming knife, means towithdraw said knife in the direction of the depth of the cut, and means, the actuation of which is controlled by the knife movement, to hold the sole on the work support while the knife is being withdrawn.

20. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a knife carrier, a knife block pivotally mounted on said carrier, asole stripper pivotally mounted on said carrier below the knife block and having one end connected to the free end of the block, whereby a movement of the block in one direction will cause a movement of the stripper in an opposite direction, and means for moving said block about its pivot.

21. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work support, a lip forming knife, means to free the sole from said knife by Withdrawing the knife in the direction of the depth of the cut, and a sole stripping device actuated concurrently to engage the sole and prevent it from following'the knife in its movement.

22. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, means for supporting a sole blank, a knife block movable toward and from said support, a knife carried thereby, means for actuating the knife block-to move the knife away from the-blank, and a stripping device actuated by the movement of the knife-block to strip theYblank from the knife. i

23. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, 'ineansfor supporting a sole blank, a "knife carrier, a' knife block pivotally mounted thereon, a knife carried by the knife. block, means [for actuating the knife block to more the "knife toward whereby the carrier and from the blank, and a sole strip ping device comprising a lever 'ivoted on the knife carrier and operative y connected to the knife block in such manner as to impart movements to the stripping device in opposite directions to those of the knife block.

24L. A sole fitting machine having in combination, means for supporting and feeding a sole blank, a channel knife, a shoulder knife of the drag-knife type, a knife-block therefor pivotally mounted above the knife, and means under the control of the operator for rocking the block laterally to move the shoulder knife into and out of operative posit-ion independently of the channel-knife.

25. A sole fitting machine havin in com: bination, a shoulder knife of plow form, and

a string guide comprisin a plate located above the cutting edge of the knife which forms the margin on the sole, said plate-havin a flange downturned toward the outer side of said cutting edge.

26. A sole fitting machine havin in combination, a knife block, a shoulder 'n'fe carried thereby, and a string guide reaching forward to the cutting edge of said knife also carried by said block.

27. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a shoulder knife of plow form having a recess in one side, and a string'guide mounted in said recess forming with said knife substantially a channel through which the string passes.

28. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, channel and edge knives of the drag-knife type, supporting and feeding means to present a sole thereto, and means to withdraw the channel knife in the direction of depth of the channel.

29. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, channel and edge knives of the drag-knife type, supporting and feeding means to present a sole thereto, and means to Withdraw the channel-knife from the channel in the direction of its depth and ther after to separate the knives and the solesupporting means.

30. A sole-fitting machine having, in combination, channel and edge knives, a common carrier therefor, sole-supporting and feeding means, and manually-controlled means to Withdraw the channel knife from the channel in the direction of its depth and thereafter to separate the knife-carrier and the sole-supporting means.

31. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a work support, a channel knife to operate about the periphery of Work supported thereby, a movable knife block for said knife, and manually-controlled means to move the block to Withdraw the knife from the channel in the direction of its depth and to lower the work-support.

32. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in

combination, meanes intermittently to clamp a sole by engaging its opposite sides and movable to feed the sole, a knife to form a channel in a sole fed thereby, and means to Withdrai'v the knife from the sole in. the direction of the depth of the channel.

33, A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means intermittently to clamp a sole by engaging its opposite sides and movable to feed the sole, a knife to form a channel in a sole fed thereby, and means to insertthe knife into the sole in the direction of the depth of the channel.

34, A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means intermittently to clamp a. sole by engaging its opposite sides and movable to feed the sole, a knife to form a channel in a sole fed thereby, and means to insert and Withdraw the knife in the direction of the depth of the channel.

35. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a sole-supporting table, a fourmotion feed-foot to cooperate with the table in supporting and feeding a sole, and a channel knife movable in the direction of the depth of a channel cut in a sole fed thereby.

36. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a sole support, a knife to form a channel in a sole supported thereby, said knife being immovable in the direction of depth of the channel during the operation of forming the channel and arranged to be withdrawn at the end of said operation Without cutting the channel flap, a knife carrier, and means to withdraw the knife and to separate the work-support and the knife carrier.

37. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a sole-supporting table, an oscillating feed member engaging the upper face of a sole thereon and imparting feeding impulses thereto, a knife to form a channel in a sole fed thereby, and treadle-controlled means to insert and withdraw the knife in the direction of depth of the channel to avoid cutting the channel flap.

38. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a work-support, a vertically movable yieldingly-mounted slide and a channel knife carried thereby, a presser foot to control the slide to gage the channel cut from the top of the sole. and means to move the knife in the direction of the depth of the channel.

39. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a Work-support, a verticallymovable yieldingly-mounted slide and a channel knife carried thereby, a presser foot to control the slide to gage the channel out from the top of the sole, and means to insert the knife in the direction of depth of the channel to avoid cutting the channel flap.

40. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a work-"support, a verticallymovable yieldingly-monnted slide and a channel knife carried thereby, a presser foot to control the slide to gage the channel cut from the top of the sole, and means to with draw to knife in the direction of depth of the channel to avoid cutting the channel flap.

41. A stock-fitting machine con'iprising, in combination, a Work-support, a vertically-- movable yieldinglyemounted slide vand a. channel knife carried thereby, a presserfoot to control the slide to gage the channel out from the top of the sole, and means to insert and Withdraw the knife in the direction or.- depth of the channel to avoid cutting the channel flap. I

42. A machine of the class describedcomprising, in combination, a movable; tool carrier, a spring-pressed locking device to-vhold the carrier in operative position, amanually movable member and a cam moved ;tl er.eby-- to release said device, and alostmotion con nection from said member to the carrier to move it to an inoperative position afterthe locking device is released. 1

43. A machine of the class described com.- prising, in combination, a yieldingly-monnted slide, a tool carrier pivoted thereon, a lock to hold the carrier in one position, and treadle-controlled connections sequentially to re lease the lock, rock the carrier, and move the slide. a

44. A machine of the class describedcomprising, in combination, a yieldinglyenonnb ed knife and a presser-foot therefor to gage 1 the cut of the knife, a Work-support to engage Work. operated on thereby, and trea dlecontrolled connections to vithdran the knifein the direction of the depth of its cut and to move theWork-support in a direction further to separate it from the knife.

45. A channeling machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable work-supporting table, oscillating means intermittently to co operate with the tableto clamp, a sole and feedit forward, a knife to channel a sole fed thereby, and manually-controlled connections, to separate the table and the knife in the direction of the depth of the channel cut by theknife, to permit removal of the sole Without cutting the channel flap. I

46. A channeling machine comprising, in combination," members engaging opposite sides of asole, a rotary shaft, connections therebetween .to cause said members interinittentlyfto clamp. the sole and feed it for- .Ward, a knifetojciit a channel in. a sole so fed, and manually-controlled means to separate-.saidmembers to release the sole and rel.-

atively to move the'sole and the knife to eject the sole fromthe knife Without cutting the channel flap.

47. A channeling machine comprising, in combination, a channel knife movable in the direction of the depth of a channel out there 1 by, eand a stripping device movable positively to force-the WOIk oif theknife Without cutting the channel flap.

ALBERT JOHNSON. b 

